Helical storage unit



July 26, 1966 A. L. OSlNSKl HELICAL STORAGE UNIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledMay 5. 1964 I gar-war:

INVENTOR. ALFRED L. OSINSK/ ATTORNEY July 26, 1966 A. OSINSKI HELIGALSTORAGE UNIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 5. 1964 w W A E V m A LFRED L.OS/NSK/ A TTORNEY United States Patent 3,262,552 HELICAL TURAGE UNIT,

Alfred 1L. Usinsiri, Warren, Mich assignor to F. .los. Lamb (10.,Warren, Mich a corporation of Michigan Filed May 5, 1964, Ser. No.365,674 14 Claims. (Ql. 198210) This invention relates to improvementsin storage units. Heretofore, in conveying mechanisms provision has beenmade for frictionally engaging workpieces and advancing them along arunway or for the engaging means to travel past the workpieces when thelatter are positively held against forward movement, as by a stop.However, such frictional engaging means are usually satisfactory onlywhen all the workpieces are substantially uniform in size and in mostcases they require frequent replacement. It is an object of thisinvention to provide frictional engaging means inflated at a relativelylow pressure so that within broader limits of size circular workpiecesare either advanced or allowed to remain stationary when their progressis positively halted without interfering with the travel of theinflatable engaging means and without adjusting the pressure therein;and again by adjusting a pressure control valve connected to theinflatable means the latter may be employed for normally advancingmaterially larger or smaller workpieces along the runway.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a unit with flexiblewipers mounted for movement with the inflatable engaging means andinterposed between the latter and the workpieces on therunway to protectthe inflatable means from damage by sharp edges on partially processedworkpieces.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a unit with means forpreselecting and maintaining a constant predetermined pressure in theinflatable engaging means.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a unit with meansfor exhausting pressure which might otherwise build up in the inflatableengaging means in excess of the pressure preselected upon engagement ofthe said inflatable means with a number of larger workpieces.

Having thus briefly and broadly stated some of the objects andadvantages of the invention I will now describe it more fully with theaid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan View of the invention, and

FIG. 2 is a side view partly in section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section on the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section showing the upper extremity of one of theinflatable hoses and its feed connection;

FIG. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged section showing the swivel connection and feedlines therefrom to the inflatable hose;

FIG. 9 is a partial horizontal section somewhat enlarged showing thesame construction but with the carriers closer together and theirinflatable hoses in closer proximity to one another;

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a slight modification of the invention,and

FIG. 11 is a partial side view thereof;

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing another modification, and

FIG. 13 is a side view thereof partly in section taken on the line 1313of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged section on the line 14-14 of FIG. 12;

Fatented July 26, 1%66 FIG. 15 is a section on the line 1515 of FIG. 14,and

FIG. 16 is a section on the line 16-16 of FIG. 13.

I will first describe those portions of the invention which are commonto all the embodiments shown.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a base having a vertical bearing2 secured thereon in which a lower stub shaft 3 is mounted for rotation.Secured coaxially around the upper extremity of the stub shaft 3 andprojecting upwardly therefrom is a hollow spindle 4 the lower extremityof which is supported on a thrust ring 5 provided on the upper face ofthe bearing 2; and suitably secured in and projecting upwardly from theupper extremity of the said spindle coaxially therewith is an upper stubshaft 6. Extending upwardly, in the present instance from the base 1,are a plurality of vertical frame members 7 which are all equidistantfrom the axis of the spindle and from one another. Extendingdiametrically across the axis of the composite drive shaft, consistingof the spindle 4 and the stub shafts 3 and 6, is a tie member 8 eachextremity of which is secured to the upper extremity of one of the framemembers 7, and projecting at right angles from each side of the tiemember 8 radial to the axis of the drive shaft is an arm 9 each of whichis secured to the upper extremity of one of the other frame members 7.Mounted also on the tie member 8 is a bearing 10 in which the upper stubshaft 6 is mounted for rotation. The upper stub shaft 6 is axially boredat 11 from its upper extremity for a portion of its length, and mountedon its upper extremity is a swivel connection 12 in communication withthe bore of the stub shaft 6. 13 denotes a compressed air lineterminating at one end in the swivel connection. The opposite end ofline 13 connects with a source of air under pressure (not shown).Mounted in the line 13 is a well known type of pressure regulating andrelief valve 14 having a dual function; it both reduces the pressure ofair flowing through it to the swivel connection 12 to the predeterminedamount for which the valve is set, usually about a pound, and it alsoautomatically reduces the pressure in the line beyond it if thatpressure builds up in a manner hereinafter mentioned to exceed theamount for which the valve is set. 15 and 16 denote a filter and alubricator, respectively, which it is customary to install in such casesin compressed air lines. Mounted on the base 1 is an electric motor 18connected to a gear box 19 having a vertical output shaft 20 on which asprocket 21 is secured, and secured around the hollow spindle 4 is asecond sprocket 22. 23 denotes a driving chain which passes around thesprockets 21 and 22 to rotate the composite drive shaft.

A helical runway 24 concentric with the spindle 4 is wound around asupporting frame formed by the frame members 7 throughout substantiallythe entire height of the spindle 4. The runway consists in the presentinstance of vertical rails uniformly spaced from one another throughouttheir length. The outer rail 25 functions as a retaining rail and istaller than the inner or carrier rails 26 upon which circular workpiecesA are adapted to travel. Formed transversely through the rails 25 and 26adjacent their lower margins are slots 25a and 26a, respectively, forthe passage of bolts 27 having spacers 23 thereon by which the rails areheld in uniformly spaced relation throughout their length. Some of thebolts 27 also engage the frame members 7 to retain the runway coaxialwith the spindle 4. Extending from the lower and upper extremities ofthe helical runway 24 are lengths of chuting 29 and 30, respectively,for the delivery of workpieces onto and the discharge of workpieces fromthe runway 24.

Referring now to the construction employed in FIGS. 1 to 11 inclusive, acarrier 31 is coaxially secured around the spindle 4 and comprisesvertically spaced rings 32 of the same diameter coaxially supportedaround the spindle adjacent opposite extremities thereof by spokelikearms 33, and a plurality of uniformly spaced vertical supports 34,consisting in the present instance of channel members, each secured toboth the rings 32 as by welding so that the said members are allparallel with and equidistant from the axis of the spindle 4.

Before describing the means mounted on the carrier for frictionallyengaging and advancing workpieces along the runway 24 it may here benoted that the spacing between the vertical supports and the meansthereon for engaging the workpieces is for the sake of clarity shownabnormally great, and a more normal spacing is illustrated in FIG. 9.While the frictional engagement of the inflatable hose, hereinafterdescribed, is sufficient not only to advance an engaged workpiece butalso others in front of it, if the spacing between adjacent hoses is toogreat there is a possibility that workpieces between them when beingpushed from behind may become laterally displaced and cause a blockalong the runway. This is prevented by spacing the hoses closertogether, as shown in FIG. 9, though of course the spacing neededdepends upon the size of the workpieces and the width of the runwayalong which they are being advanced.

Outwardly spaced from each support 34 by vertically aligned spacers 35is a curved plate 36 which extends throughout the height of the runway24. Against the outer face of the plate 36 intermediately of its width avertical inflatable hose 37 rests, and extending through each hose.intermediately of its length is a flexible strip 38. Extending atvertically spaced intervals through the strip 38, the inner side of thehose 37, the curved plate 36, the spacers 35 and the support 34 arebolts 39 to secure these parts to one another. In order to facilitatethe insertion of the bolts 39 carriage bolts are preferably employedwhich are inserted through the strip 38 prior to its insertion in thehose. Secured as by vertically spaced bolts 40 to the leading verticalmargin of each curved plate relative to its direction of rotation aboutthe axis of the spindle 4 is a flexible wiper 41 which extendsrearwardly over the inflatable hose 37 immediately behind it andterminates over the leading margin of the wiper next behind it. Thus awiper is interposed between each hose and the workpieces on the runwayso that the hoses are protected from damage which might otherwise becaused by contact with burrs or sharp edges on partly processedworkpieces. As previously stated the spacing between adjacent hoses 37must be such that there is no possibility of inward displacement ofworkpieces between them which might result in blocking their flow alongthe runway.

Each inflatable hose 37 is inwardly flexed towards the spindle 4adjacent both extremities and closed at its ends to prevent the escapeof air under pressure therefrom. In the present instance at each end theopposite sides of the hose are flattened against one another throughouttheir width and rest against a correspondingly inwardly bent extremity36a of the plate 36 against which that hose rests intermediately of itslength. Bolts 42 extend through the extremity of the plate 36, bothsides of the hose 37 and through a clamping plate 43.

Extending through one side of one inwardly flexed extremity of the hose37 is a fitting consisting of a threaded tubular shank 44 whichterminates within the hose in an enlarged annular head 45. A nut 46 onthe shank 44 holds the head in firm sealed engagement with the innerface of the hose. Lateral grooves 47 formed in the underside of the headpermit unrestricted flow of air into and from the hose.

In the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 a manifold 48 is mounted aroundthe upper stub shaft 6 and radial openings 49 formed through the shaft 6connect its bore 11 with the interior of the manifold. Separate piping50 connects the manifold to each of the tubular shanks 44.

In the modification in FIGS. 10 and 11 the construction is the same asthat previously described except that a single pipe 51 extends from thebore 11 of the upper stub shaft 6, which forms an integral part of thedrive shaft; and the pipe 51 is connected to a circular pipe 52 fromwhich a separate pipe connection 53 extends to each of the tubularshanks 44.

Referring to FIGS. 12 to 16 inclusive, a carrier 31:: includes a drum 54coaxially supported around the spindle 4, which forms an integral partof the drive shaft, for rotation therewith by spoke-like arms 55, andthe drum is of smaller diameter than and coaxial with the helical runway24. Wound helically around the drum 54, preferably in the oppositedirection to the winding of the helical runway as is clearly shown inFIG. 13, is an inflatable hose 56 which in larger units may consist of aplurality of separate hose lengths consecutively arranged as shown inFIGS. 12 and 13 so that each length extends around the drum for aportion of its height. Secured around the outer periphery of the drumand outwardly flexed to extend over the turn of the hose beneath it areflexible wipers 57 which project downwardly sufliciently far to overlapthe upper portions of the wipers next beneath them. These wipers usuallyconsist of a plurality of separate lengths of material with theirtrailing extremities, relative to the direction of rotation of the drum,overlapping the leading extremities of the wipers next following asindicated at 57a in FIG. 12. These wipers are secured to the drum as bybolts 58 the heads of which serve as supports for the turn of the hosenext above them though of course other means may be employed forpreventing downward movement of the hose relative to the drum ifdesired. The hose is relatively closely wound around the drum as it isdesirable that it frictionally engages the workpieces substantiallythroughout their length of travel along the runway. The extremities ofeach hose length are flexed inwardly through openings formed through thedrum 54. Into one extremity of each hose length a blind spool 59 isinserted and secured therein by a clamping ring 60 around the hose, andin the opposite extremity of each hose length a spool 61 having alongitudinal opening 62 therethrough is similarly secured by a clampingring 63. Extending from the bore 11 of the upper stub shaft 6 areseparate pipe connections 64 the opposite extremity of each of which isin threaded engagement with the longitudinal opening 62 of one of thespools 61.

In each form of the invention illustrated it will be noted that thecircular workpieces are advanced along a runway with a rolling action.In the arrangements specifically shown, the workpieces A rest on thecarrier rails 26 and are caused to roll against guide rail 25 by reasonof the wiping action of the inflated hoses.

Furthermore, it will be noted that the hoses illustrated are shaped suchthat at the operating pressures used which may for example be on theorder of one-half to two pounds per square inch depending on the sizeand weight of the workpieces, the cross section of the hoses isgenerally elongated rather than circular. Hose material of the typeconventionally used for light weight fire hose is admirably suited foruse in this arrangement. When such hose is inflated to a low pressure itassumes a flat elongated shape in cross section rather than a circularshape. The flat elongated shape is preferred from thestandpoint of thegreater surface contact area with the workpieces being conveyed.

I claim:

1. A unit comprising a frame, a stationary runway secured thereto, acarrier mounted on the frame for movement in uniformly spaced relationto the runway, and inflatable means mounted on the carrier for movementtherewith, said inflatable means being adapted to frictionally engageworkpieces on the runway and advance them therealong and means formaintaining a predetermined fluid pressure in the inflatable means.

2. A unit of the character described comprising a frame, a carriermounted for rotation thereon, a stationary helical runway mounted on theframe coaxially with the carrier, and inflatable means mounted on thecarrier for movement therewith and traversing each flight of the helicalrunway to frictionally engage workpieces on the runway and advance themtherealong.

3. The combination in claim 2, wherein the inflatable means comprises aplurality of hoses uniformly radially spaced from the axis of thecarrier throughout their length.

4. The combination in claim 3, including piping extending from eachinflatable hose, a circular pipe to which all said piping is connected,a fluid pressure feed line having a pressure regulating valve therein,and means connecting the feed line to the circular pipe.

5. A unit of the character described comprising a frame, a verticaldrive shaft mounted for rotation thereon, a carrier secured coaxially tothe drive shaft for rotation therewith, a stationary helical runwaysecured to the frame coaxially with the carrier, inflatable meansmounted on the carrier opposite the runway and extending substantiallythroughout the height of said runway for frictionally engagingworkpieces thereon and advancing them therealong.

6. The combination in claim 5, including flexible wipers secured to thecarrier in overlapping relation and extending over the inflatable meanswhereby said wipers are interposed between said inflatable means and theworkpieces on the runway.

7. The combination in claim 5, including a swivel connection mounted onthe drive shaft, a fluid pressure feed line connected to the swivelconnection and having an adjustable pressure regulating valve therein,and means connecting the swivel connection to the inflatable means.

8. The combination in claim 5, including a swivel connection mounted onthe drive shaft, a fluid pressure feed line connected to the swivelconnection, a manifold secured around the drive shaft, said shaft havinga passage therethrough connecting the swivel connection with themanifold, and means connecting the manifold with the inflatable means.

9. A unit of the character described comprising a 1 frame, a verticaldrive shaft mounted thereon for rotation, a carrier secured coaxiallyaround the drive shaft for rotation therewith, a stationary helicalrunway secured to the frame coaxially with the carrier, and inflatablemeans helically wound around the carrier and positioned opposite therunway throughout the height thereof for friction-ally engagingworkpieces on said runway and advancing them therealong.

10. A unit of the character described comprising a frame, a verticaldrive shaft mounted for rotation thereon, a carrier secured coaxiallyaround the drive shaft for rotation therewith, a stationary helicalrunway secured to the frame coaxially with the carrier, and inflatablemeans helically wound around the carrier in the opposite direction tothe winding of the helical runway and positioned opposite said runwaythroughout the height of the latter for frictionally engaging workpieceson the runway and advancing them therealong.

11. A unit of the character described comprising a frame having avertical drive shaft mounted for rotation thereon, a carrier supportedcoaxially around the shaft for rotation therewith, a stationary helicalrunway mounted on the frame coaxially with the drive shaft, a pluralityof inflatable hoses mounted substantially vertically on the carrier, allsaid hoses being equidistant from the axis of the drive shaft throughouttheir height to frictionally engage workpieces on the runway and advancethem therealong, a plurality of flexible segmental wipers mounted on thecarrier in overlapping relation and extending over the hoses wherebythey are interposed between the hoses and the workpieces on the runway,a swivel connection mounted on the drive shaft, means connecting theswivel connection to each hose, a fluid pressure feed line connected tothe swivel connection, and an adjustable pressure regulating valve inthe feed line for maintaining a uniform predetermined pressure in allthe hoses.

12. A unit of the character described comprising a frame having avertical drive shaft mounted for rotation thereon, a carrier securedcoaxially around the drive shaft for rotation therewith, a stationaryhelical-runway mounted on the frame coaxially around the carrier, aplurality of inflatable hoses helically wound in sequence around thecarrier to frictionally engage workpieces on the runway and advance themtherealong, flexible wipers secured to the carrier and arranged inoverlapping relation, said wipers extending outwardly over theinflatable hoses whereby they are interposed between the hoses andworkpieces on the runway, said hoses and said wipers being helicallywound in the opposite direction to the winding of the helical runway, aswivel connection mounted on the drive shaft, means connecting theswivel connection to each of the hoses, a fluid pressure line connectedto the swivel connection, and an adjustable pressure regulating valve inthe feed line for maintaining a predetermined pressure in all the hoses.

13. A unit of the character described comprising a frame, a stationaryrunway on the frame, a carrier mounted on the frame for movement in apath spaced from and generally parallel to the runway, said carrierhaving an inflatable member thereon juxtaposed to the runway and adaptedwhen inflated to contact workpieces on the runway, said inflatablemember being designed when inflated to present a generally broad, flatand readily depressible surface to the workpieces on the runway andflexible wiper means secured to the carrier and extending over theinflatable member whereby the wiper means are interposed between theinflatable member and the workpieces on the runway.

14. The combination in claim 13, including flexible wiper secured at oneedge to the carrier and overlying said broad, flat surface with itsopposite end free.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,568,594 1/1926Flint 198-162 3,071,240 1/1963 Graham 198-212 FOREIGN PATENTS 101,4693/1963 Norway.

EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner. EDWARD A. SROKA, Examiner,

1. A UNIT COMPRISING A FRAME, A STATIONARY RUNWAY SECURED THERETO, ACARRIER MOUNTED ON THE FRAME FOR MOVEMENT IN UNIFORMLY SPACED RELATIONTO THE RUNWAY, AND INFLATABLE MEANS MOUNTED ON THE CARRIER FOR MOVEMENTTHEREWITH, SAID INFLATABLE MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO FRICTIONALLY ENGAGEWORKPIECES ON THE RUNWAY AND ADVANCE THEM THEREALONG AND MEANS FORMAINTAINING A PREDETERMINED FLUID PRESSURE IN THE INFLATABLE MEANS.